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Alberta expanding services provided by midwives

Dec 12, 2018 | 12:41 PM

EDMONTON — Alberta Health is expanding the services midwives will be able to provide. 

At a news conference on Wednesday (Dec 12), Health Minister Sarah Hoffman announced midwives who complete additional training will be allowed to provide more services, including prescribing a broader range of prescription drugs and contraceptives, as well as being allowed to induce labour and use ultrasounds to determine fetal position.

“We want to provide Albertans with easier access to maternal and reproductive health services closer to home. Expanding midwives’ scope of practice and maximizing their skills enables us to offer more essential services to families in their communities. I’m proud to see midwives playing a bigger role in primary health care as well as the journey toward parenthood.”

Cassondra Evans, President of the College of Midwives of Alberta, said the increased services will mean a “new era in professional status for Alberta’s registered midwives”.
 
She noted the change will allow midwives to make greater use of their knowledge and skills while providing high-quality, cost-effective maternity care for Alberta’s child-bearing families.  It will also increase access to primary care in rural, remote and underserved regions.
As well, the changes bring Alberta in line with many other provinces and territories.

Alberta has also increased funding for midwifery services by $11 million over the last three years, bringing the total to $49 million.

 There are currently 133 midwives practising in Alberta, who provide care from the prenatal stage, to delivery and after birth.